Mall fire killed 10; short circuit blamed

A mall fire in which 10 people died and 16 others were injured was caused by an electrical short circuit, police in the Chinese city of Tianjin said. Police said investigators found an air conditioner on a first floor warehouse in the Laide Shopping Mall short-circuited and ignited flammable material and flames engulfed the five-story mall June 30, Xinhua reported Sunday. Eight mall workers, a home-goods saleswoman and a customer were killed. Police fined a several Internet users for spreading rumors that more people died in the fire and for making up witness quotes, Xinhua said.